Steven Kaplan is a scholar of Ethiopian Jewish history, and this New York University Press book is his standard scholarly history of the Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jewish community, from its earliest documented period through the twentieth century. Its strength is that Kaplan applies critical academic historical method to the community's own history, scripture, the Orit, and clergy, the Kessoch, rather than presenting the community's devotional self-understanding uncritically. Its limit is that as a critical academic history it is written from outside the community's own devotional voice, so a claim about how Beta Israel members themselves understand their tradition today needs a source that centers that voice directly alongside Kaplan's historical account.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
Steven Kaplan's standard scholarly history of the Beta Israel community from a university press, an outside academic account rather than the community's own devotional voice. NotesSteven Kaplan's standard scholarly history of the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish) community from its earliest documented period through the twentieth century. Use for established historical facts about Beta Israel identity, scripture (the Orit) and clergy (the Kessoch); a critical academic history, not the community's own devotional voice.
Citation
AuthorSteven Kaplan
PublisherNew York University Press
Publication Year1992
Source Typeacademic monograph
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Beta Israel directly: "his standard scholarly history of the Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jewish community, from its earliest documented period through the twentieth century."
This source names Israel directly: "standard scholarly history of the Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jewish community, from its earliest documented period through the twentieth century."
This source names New York directly: "of Ethiopian Jewish history, and this New York University Press book is his standard scholarly history of the Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jewish community, from its earliest documented period through..."
Claims Backed By This Source (45 claims)
This source backs 45 claims across the atlas. As facts: 26 well-attested. As cited relationships: 6 holds, 2 connected, 1 held Differently. Plus 10 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Articles, 13 claims: 8 well-attested, 2 connected, 3 general references.
- Denominations, 11 claims: 8 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.
- Sources, 10 claims: 7 well-attested, 3 holds.
- Sacred Sound, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Beliefs & Restrictions, 2 claims: 2 general references.
- Doctrines, 2 claims: 1 held Differently, 1 general references.
- Religious Events, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Scriptures & Texts, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
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